The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers have vastly underperformed their preseason expectations through the first 4 months of the season, however neither crew made a transfer so as to add to their roster on the NBA commerce deadline Thursday.
The Lakers are 27-25 and in ninth place within the Western Convention, whereas the Warriors sit two spots again in eleventh at 23-25.
After making the 2023 Western Convention finals and profitable this season’s In-Season Event, the Lakers appeared primed for one more deep postseason run. However a middling January poked a gap in these plans and appeared to arrange Los Angeles as an energetic deadline purchaser.
Nevertheless, after weeks of talks with the Atlanta Hawks surrounding a commerce for All-Star Dejounte Murray, no deal was accomplished. Per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers had beforehand supplied D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, their 2029 first-round choose and extra draft compensation for Murray.
However with out a deal, Los Angeles will take these belongings, together with the coveted Austin Reaves, into the ultimate months of the season, hoping they will conjure extra playoff magic constructed round 39-year-old LeBron James.
Regardless of enjoying in his twenty first season, James is averaging 24.9 factors, 7.6 assists and seven.3 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per sport. On Jan. 31, James tweeted an hourglass emoji amid the crew’s commerce deadline hypothesis. James declined to clarify what he meant by the message.
James’ future with the Lakers additionally has been introduced into query in current weeks, because the four-time MVP answered, “No,” when requested whether or not he had determined to choose up his participant possibility for subsequent season that’s value $51.4 million. The deadline to train that possibility is June 29.
LeBron James was requested twice concerning the commerce deadline tonight.
Listed here are his two solutions:
You guys went 4-2 on this journey. Do you are feeling like as a crew you have confirmed or proven why you guys ought to proceed to speculate on this group?
James: “That is who we’ve got, so there’s nothing else…
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 6, 2024
The Warriors, two years faraway from profitable their fourth NBA title up to now decade, entered Thursday’s deadline with a roster each constructed to win now — constructed across the still-dominant Steph Curry — and loaded with tradeable items.
Golden State did make one deal, sending guard Cory Joseph to the Indiana Pacers. However the Warriors didn’t obtain any gamers in return, solely money and a second-round choose, in line with league sources. The deal wipes Joseph’s veteran minimal deal off the books, saving the Warriors someplace round $11 million in luxurious tax and clearing an additional roster spot.
The Joseph deal is a footnote in comparison with the offers Golden State contemplated however didn’t execute.
Andrew Wiggins — who has had a career-worst season after enjoying a key function within the crew’s 2022 championship run — will stay with the Warriors, ending out the primary 12 months of his four-year extension. He’s performed higher over the previous month and is at the moment slotted into their beginning and shutting lineup. As a substitute of the underwhelming player-for-player choices on the market for Wiggins, the Warriors held onto him.
Chris Paul, an expiring contract that might have been priceless available on the market if connected to a draft asset, may also stay with the Warriors. He has a $30 million non-guaranteed deal subsequent season that could possibly be used as a automobile for commerce this summer time. Or they will let him stroll and extra simply slip underneath the second apron, which they view as mainly a should.
Paul is out with an harm however is predicted to return in some unspecified time in the future after the All-Star break and is more likely to take over the non-Curry minutes for the Warriors.
The Warriors did verify in on a number of gamers in current weeks, together with some talks with the Chicago Bulls relating to Alex Caruso on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. However the worth was too steep and the Warriors stood pat, sustaining a roster that’s enjoying higher currently however nonetheless sits eleventh in a crowded West.
As a substitute, the Warriors will hope their veteran core can return to their All-Star ranges of manufacturing from yesteryear, whereas their younger items elevate their play and breathe life into Golden State’s gasping dynasty amid a crowded Western Convention.
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(Picture: Noah Graham / NBAE through Getty Photos)
